A Godly Father

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-15-2025

Joshua 24:14-25

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Father’s Day typically takes a back seat to Mother’s Day, and I have no problem with that. We need to celebrate our precious wives and mothers due to their significant role in the family structure. We honor the ladies and should continue to do so because we love them and are proud of them.

 

B.  This is Father’s Day, and today we will exalt the man and praise him in the position that the Lord gave to him. 

 

1.  He is the glory of his children - Proverbs 17:6   Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 

 

(Daddy, you are so critical in the lives of your family and especially in the lives of your children!)

 

2.  He is the head of his home - 1 Corinthians 11:3  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  (The father is the spiritual leader, and as goes the father, so goes the home!  Weak fathers = weak homes.  Strong fathers = strong homes. Spiritual fathers = spiritual home.)

 

a)  He is to take that responsibility seriously!

 

b)  The wife is willing to give him that headship.  Dr. B. R. Lakin used to say, “Some husbands are so henpecked that they roost on the foot of the bed at night.”  America needs men who are born again, with a strong spiritual backbone, who will begin to lead their families.

 

C.  Only time and eternity will show the fundamental importance of men in both the family and the work of the Lord.

 

D.  In our text, we find that wonderful testimony of Joshua as he declared to the people that he and his house would serve the Lord.  

 

1.  Joshua is well known in the Bible for his unwavering faith, commitment, and fearlessness in battle.  Joshua 10:12  Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

 

2.  Joshua was a man of God!

 

3.  But little is said about Nun, Joshua’s father.

 

a)  We know that he was of the tribe of Ephraim.  Numbers 13:8  Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun. 

 

b)  The word “Nun” means (30x in the Old Testament) – to propagate or perpetual; resprout or continual.   Faithfulness in Guidance.

 

The Hebrew letter NUN is the fourteenth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.  NUN means “faithfulness.”   The Psalm begins with Guidance in verse 105. 

 

Psalms 119:105  NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

 

c)  Enough said about Nun as the Bible says nothing else but we can see the product of Nun in Joshua.  The phrase “Joshua, the son of Nun” is found in 29 of the 30 mentions of Nun.  When Joshua Was mentioned, it told us who raised him!

 

d)  Thus, Nun was a man who probably passed on his integrity and faithfulness to his son, Joshua, who became one of the greatest leaders in Israel’s history.

 

e)  Nothing is also said concerning Joshua’s children.  We do not know if he had or how man children he had as the Scripture does not carry Joshua’s lineage forward.  Therefore, I will not speculate their outcome if he had children, but I will discuss the role that Joshua played in his home and in Israel.

 

1.  Joshua Was A Man  Of  Unashamed Conversion (Saved and know it!) – (Joshua means Jehovah is salvation.)  Exodus 33:9-11  And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.  (10)  And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.  (11)  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

 

At Jerico, we find Joshua’s respect, reverence, and worship expressed.  Joshua 5:13-15  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  (14)  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  (15)  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

 

Later, during his leadership of Israel, we find the worship of Joshua.  Joshua 8:30   Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

 

a.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Not Ashamed Of Their Salvation - Philippians 1:20  According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 

 

(Let the world know that you are saved and love the Lord!)

 

2 Timothy 1:12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

b.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Not Ashamed Of Their Associations - 2 Timothy 1:8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

 

(Love and spend time with God’s people!)

         

2.  Joshua Was A Man Of Unblemished Character (Saved and show it!) – Joshua 11:15   As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

 

1 Corinthians 16:13   Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 

a.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Sober – “watch ye”  (Spiritually discerning.)

 

b.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Steadfast– “stand fast in the faith”  (Doctrinally correct.)

 

c.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Strong– “quit you like men, be strong”  (Unwavering.)

 

3.  Joshua Was A Man  Of Unwavering Commitment (Saved and owe it!) – Joshua 23:1 (Joshua, as an old man was still committed.)  Judges 2:8  And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 

 

a.  God, Give Us Men Who Are Sold Out To God - Philippians 1:21   For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

 

(Serving as an example to others.)

 

b.  God, Give Us Men Whose Families Are Sold Out To God - Joshua 24:15   And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 

 

(Serving as an example to the home.)

 

Happy Father’s Day!  I love the men of this church!  Be a good Christian and then you will be a good Dad!  God bless!

Father’s Day – 2024 - Give Me A Man

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-16-2024

1 Samuel 17:1-11

 

Introduction:

 

A. Father’s Day normally takes a back seat to Mother’s Day and I have no problem with that. We need to make much of our precious wives and mothers because of their great importance to the family structure. We make much of the ladies and need to do so because we love them and are proud of them.

 

B. As I thought about Father’s Day and the men that grace the pews of our church, I thought about the story of David and Goliath. A story that we are all well acquainted with.

 

C. In 1 Samuel, chapter 17, we find the ages old battles between Israel and the Philistines. Today, the land of the Philistine is Gaza. We all know the battles that go on today as the “Philistines” continue to be the perpetual enemies of God’s covenant people, Israel.

 

D. The backdrop for this morning’s message is an old one. The armies of the Philistines are gathered on the hills on one side of the Valley of Elah (Judah - verse 1) while the armies of the Israelites are gathered on the hills above this great valley on the other side.

 

E. Neither side, Philistines or Israel, are sure of victory as they both shout for the battle but neither move to the Valley of Elah where the battle will take place.

 

F. The Philistines have a champion named Goliath. Goliath is 6 cubits and a span or app. 9 feet ½ feet in height and his weight must have been enormous. His coat of “mail” weighed app. 200 pounds and was made of iron wire mesh.

 

G. The staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron (app. 25 pounds): and one bearing a shield went before him.

 

H. What an awesome and terrible sight he must have presented to the armies of Israel as, for forty days, he blasphemed the God of Israel and challenged any man to come down and fight.

 

J. Israel, with all its mighty men and Kings Saul who probably over 7 feet tall himself, trembled!

 

K. This morning, I want to look at the request of Goliath: “Give me a man!” And he found one! David!

 

L. “Give me a man!” The world is still looking for men! This is Father’s Day and today we will honor the man for the position that the Lord gave to him.

 

1. He is the glory of his children - Proverbs 17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. (Dads, you are so very important in the lives of your family and especially in the lives of your children!)

 

2. He is the head of his home - 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (The father is the spiritual leader and as goes the father, so goes the home! Weak fathers = weak homes. Strong fathers = strong homes. Spiritual fathers = spiritual home.)

 

a) We, as fathers, need to take that responsibility seriously!

 

b) The wife is to willingly give him that headship and leadership.

 

c) Dr. B. R. Lakin used to say, “Some husbands are so henpecked that they roost on the foot of the bed at night.” America needs some men who are born again with a strong spiritual backbone who will begin to lead their family.

 

M. Only time and eternity will show the real importance of men in both the family and the work of the Lord.

 

N. In our text, we find that wonderful story of David.

 

1. David was a young man. Too young (under the age of 20) to go to war. God chooses to use all men, the youth for their strength and the older because of their wisdom.

 

1 Samuel 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

 

2. David was an obedient man. David obeyed his father’s commandments.

 

1 Samuel 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

 

3. David was a humble man. The statement “those few sheep” was a slander against David’s ability and usefulness.

 

1 Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

 

4. David was a man of integrity. How many men were in this army who were not willing to stand for a just cause? If our cause is just, and it is, how come so few stand in our day?

 

1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

 

5. David was a brave man. The entire army of Israel (possibly up to 500,000 to 1,000,000 men cowered in fear. They shouted for the battle but would not take their army down into the valley to fight. A whole lot of shouting going on but not much warring going on.

 

1 Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

 

6. David was not afraid to face a giant! Later, we find mighty men under David who faced giants without fear. He saw and faced what these hardened soldiers feared.

 

1 Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

 

7. David was a wise man. I know that Goliath had 4 brothers but David did not know that. He had the wisdom to know that it just might take more than one stone to kill this giant!

 

1 Samuel 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

 

8. David knew that God was larger than the giant he faced. Our God is greater than all our enemies, circumstances, or fears!

 

1 Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

 

9. David was a confident man. David had no premonitions, dreams, voices from heaven, but knew that with God, all things are possible and no problem is to great nor any enemy too large.

 

1 Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

 

10. David was a victorious man.

 

1 Samuel 17:49-51 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. (50) So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. (51) Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

 

Conclusion: Dear Lord, Please Give Us Some Davids!

 

Happy Father’s Day! I love the men of this church! Be a good man. Be a good Christian. Then you will be a good Dad! God bless each father, man, and boy here today!

Father’s Day – 2023 - Let Us Make Man

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-18-2023

Genesis 1:26-28

 

Introduction: 

A.  First of all, “Happy Father’s Day!”  I pray that today will be a special day for each person here this morning.  None of you would be here this morning if it were not for your dad.  Artificial Intelligence can never replace the men that God has placed in each of our lives.  Make this a special day for both your father and your family.

 

B.  Our text is the First Mention of man, woman, children, and home.  In the First Mention of these, we find the will of God for each within the divine structure of the home.  The world has done its best to destroy homes and is doing a good job of it.  Today, homes are out of order, filled with division, and filled with the world.

 

C.  God has purpose in the structure for the blessing of our homes, but homes must follow the purpose and pattern that God intended to prosper. 

 

D.  Man has been on this earth for approximately 6000 years.  As we go back to the “dawn” of creation, through the inspiration of the Word of God we get to see through God’s eyes. 

 

Genesis 1:4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

 

Genesis 1:10  And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:12  And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:18  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:25  And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

 

Genesis 1:31  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

E.  Six times in Genesis, chapter 1, the Bible says that “God saw” and “it was good”.  A seventh time, God added the word “very” to “good.”  A perfect creation was only perfect when God created man in His image and after His likeness!

 

F.  Let us look at three verses found in Genesis, chapter 1 that made this world a perfect place.

 

Genesis 1:26-28  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  (28)  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 

G.  God made man:

 

1.  After His image.  Image: From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, especially an idol: - image, vain shew.  (Something that cannot be seen but can be perceived.  You can see my physical body, but you cannot see my spiritual person.  Today, I live in my body, but I will also live outside of my body one day.)

 

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

 

2. After His likeness.  Likeness: resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like: - fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.  (As God is a trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, so man is a trinity: body, soul, and spirit.)

3.  Before God established the first home, He gave Adam everything that he needed to head it up.

 

a)  A body that was world conscious.  When God created Adam, my thinking—as he was created a full-grown man—is that we could say that his life began at what we would call 30 years old in looks and strength.  I base that upon Christ beginning His public ministry when He was 30.

 

b)  A soul that was self-conscious.  Adam’s soul or heart or seat of affections is where he was conscious of self which forms our conscience.

 

c)  A spirit that was God conscious.  It is in spirit that Adam worshipped the Lord and walked with “the voice of the Lord God.”

 

H.  All this seen by God and given to us to see and know that it is very good?  God made man spirit and also multiple in one.  “Male and female created He them.”

 

J.  Now, for the structure of the first home created by God created Adam, the first man, to be the embodiment of all three aspects of the family.  In Adam was Eve and through Adam and Eve came children.  All were in Adam when he was created!  This is an important revelation given to us.  God made man along with women and children to eternally co-exist with Him!

 

K.  I used to be hard on Adam because of the thinking and actions of Eve in the Garden of Eden but they were probably equal at the time as God did not appoint Adam to rule over Eve until after the fall.  Submission was a part of Eve’s judgment.

 

Genesis 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

 

L.  Adam was the head, Eve was his helpmeet, and children were the offspring.  Look at the New Testament structure of the home as it perfectly agrees with the First Mention of the home.  Homes will never be right until the order of the home is right.

 

1 Corinthians 11:2-3  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  (3)  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

 

Ephesians 6:1-2  Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  (2)  Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

 

M.  A good father must have:

 

1.  His Relationship with God MUST be right. 

 

a.  Salvation.  This relationship must be based on Redemption.  This is heart searching in that the question is now asked to you know Jesus Christ in salvation?  If you do not, you need to.  EXCEPT a man be born again, he cannot see nor enter into the Kingdom of God!  Period!

 

b. Sanctification.  A proper relationship with God requires a Walk with God.  I have been preaching a series on “Walking With God” as it is essential to our relationship with God.  If you are not walking right, it is because you are not living right.

 

b.  Service.  A proper relationship with God continues with a Walk in the Word of God.  Personal and family devotions are essential to a spiritual home.

 

c.  A proper relationship with God will produce a biblical Worship of God.  In these last days, for the most part, the women are more spiritual than the men. 

 

2.  His Responsibility to Biblical Obligation MUST be right.  Both to the family and each other.

 

a.  To Protect his family.  This has virtually become a bad thing in our day but the Father should be ready to fight and die for his family.  Real men are vicious protectors of their wives, children, and grandchildren.

 

b.  To Provide for his family.  Shelter, clothing, food, and every essential to family life.  God’s men should have a work ethic and take care of business.  They should keep their bills within their budget.

 

c.  To set a Pattern for his family.  If the wife and children are to follow the Father, then the Father MUST walk in a spiritually plain path that the Bible calls the Old Paths wherein is the good way.

 

3.  His Reason MUST be right.

 

a.  Obedience to God!  God made you men the head.

 

b.  Love of Family!  Family first, not friends or finances or fancy!

 

4.  Then his Ruling WILL be right.

 

a.  Just!

 

b.  In the fear of God!

 

Happy Father’s Day!